Driver Hire has been announced as one of the key partners of this year’s annual National Lorry Week.

Driver Hire is getting ready for National Lorry Week this week, which celebrates the crucial role that HGVs (and the road transport industry in general) play in our day-to-day lives. The logistics recruitment franchise will be one of the key partners supporting the event, which is now into its fourth successful year.

Although lorries are a common sight on our roads, National Lorry Week aims to make the public think about the often-overlooked impact they have on our country. Simon Johnston, Network Development Director at Driver Hire, explains just how much we rely on lorries and other road transport methods in all of our lives.

“Without the lorry, supermarket shelves would be empty, we’d soon be running short of petrol and UK industry would quickly grind to a halt. According to the Road Haulage Association (RHA), 89% of the UK’s food and agricultural products and 98% of all consumer products and machinery are transported by road. That makes the industry the UK’s fifth largest employer with around 600,000 goods vehicle licence holders. There are 493,600 commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes registered in the UK.”

He added that as well as the industry being crucial in keeping the country running, it’s greatly beneficial for the economy, adding around £124 billion every single year.

National Lorry Week was set up by the RHA and its 2018 celebration will be launched at Truckfest North West on the 15th of September, where fans of the biggest and best vehicles around will come together to admire thousands of trucks and haulage vehicles. As well as its big launch, free eye tests will be offered throughout the week from Vision Express to ensure all lorry drivers’ eye sight is up to scratch.

Johnston explained why Driver Hire decided to become a National Lorry Week partner. “The lorry is such a familiar sight for all of us, whenever we’re out and about, it’s easy to overlook the massive contribution goods vehicles and their drivers make to UK plc. We’re proud to be an essential supplier of drivers and other workers to this essential industry.”